Box Score
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- Jeff Grijalva had one of his best starts of the season, allowing just two runs over seven-plus innings as Biola opened a four-game GSAC series against Westmont College with a 5-2 win on Thursday afternoon at Russ Carr Field in Santa Barbara.

The Eagles record their second-straight win and move to 8-10 on the season, improving to 2-3 in conference play. The Warriors drop to 6-10-1 overall and to 1-4 in the GSAC.

Grijalva, who had struggled in a pair of starts over the last few weeks, was solid on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits over 7-1/3 innings, striking out seven. After a shaky first inning, he settled down and worked into the eighth before being relieved.

Helping provide the offense was Vinnie Fayard, who was a perfect 4-for-4 with the lone time he failed to reach base, he recorded a sacrifice fly.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Benji Sutherland singled to open the game and moved to third on a single by Dustin Williams. Fayard picked up that sacrifice fly to drive home the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the first, a walk followed by back-to-back bunt singles loaded the bases with no one out. A bases-loaded walk brought home the first run and a sacrifice fly would give the Warriors the 2-1 lead. Grijalva worked out of the jam with a double play.

Biola tied the game in the second on a sacrifice fly by Michael Chriss, then took the lead in the third with a big three-run inning. Fayard opened the inning with a double followed by a double by Nick Covyeau to break the tie. Chriss then drove home another run four batters later with a single up the middle and Sutherland capped the inning with a run-scoring single to left.

Neither team was able to score again the rest of the way though both teams had chances. Biola had a base runner in each inning, but could not get a clutch hit to drive in any insurance runs. Westmont also had opportunities to score late. In the sixth and eighth, the Warriors would put two on with one out. In the sixth, Grijalva worked out of the jam while Karl Stuck came on in relief to work out of the jam in the eighth.

In the ninth, Westmont opened the inning with back-to-back singles. However, JT Mickelson came on in relief and coaxed a double play and--after a walk--struck out the final batter of the game.

Grijalva improves to 2-2 on the season with the win while Mickelson picked up his first save.

Wesley Cottier reached base in four of five plate appearances, recording two hits and being hit by pitches twice. He scored two runs.

The two teams meet again in the second game of the series again on Friday at Westmont. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.